WRQC527

Frankly, I think it would be a pretty expensive roll of the dice. Like you said, there is very little I could find about this radio, other than Amazon reviews and an Ebay presence. There are FCC reports for it, but they don't tell you if it can be unlocked. I don't see it listed on CHIRP, but apparently there is software available from the manufacturer. It looks nice, but it apparently does one thing, FM 70 cm amateur. You can always buy it on Amazon, test it and post your findings, and return it if you don't like it.

Have you considered the Yaesu FT-4XR? It can be opened up for additional frequencies, but you don't get the air band. Like the FT-65, it also appears to be CHIRP-compatible (at least it shows on the CHIRP drop-down menu), and it's (at the time of this post) on sale for $80 at Ham Radio Outlet. If I didn't have a fleet of HTs already, I would get one. Also, at HRO, the FT-65 is on sale for $110. Neither one is the ten-watt powerhouse you're looking for, but they're solid versatile radios.

It depends. In the parallel universe of amateur radio. the axiom is to use only enough power to make the contact. The same should hold true for GMRS. If you're operating at 50 watts when you could do it on 5 watts, then yes, you are not only wasting power, but you are also putting excessive RF energy into the ether where it does no one any good. But if you're on your side in a Jeep with your antenna pointing toward the dirt and the closest help is 30 miles away and only reachable with 50 watts, then by all means crank it up. Like the axiom says, use (just) enough power to make the contact. Also, running any radio at its full rated power generates more heat, which ain't good for electronics. And some car electrical systems can't keep up with 50 watts anyway. I had a mobile Icom VHF/HF radio that would shut off if I transmitted on 50 watts. So there is that. But like a wise man said a minute ago, you can cut the power if you have it but you can't increase it if you don't have it. I think that's what he said.

I've heard it said (on the Miklor site) and had it happen personally on my Baofengs, that if the plug isn't inserted all the way, CHIRP won't read the radio. And sometimes you even need to trim some off the plug to make it fit. It doesn't take much to keep those pins from making contact. Just a thought.

I may be wrong, but mayhaps it goes back to how the FCC defines a base station, which is that it's a station at a fixed location that communicates directly with mobile stations and other base stations. No mention of repeaters.

In theory, and if my math is correct, if you wanted to throw a 36 inch Harbor Freight pipe wrench in the gears, you could run an offset of as much as 5.175 Mhz, as long as the repeater is receiving and transmitting on authorized main channels, and be within the rules. The only restriction I see is that a repeater can't invert the offset (transmitting on the 467 frequencies and receiving on the 462 frequencies.) I'm no expert on how many type-accepted GMRS radios let you alter the repeater offsets, but that would be the wrench.

And here I thought MyGMRS forums were pits of snarkiness. Personally, the way I read the rules, it looks like linking GMRS repeaters is prohibited, but the way the rules are written generates debate. And the answers from the FCC only fuel the debate. I would never come right out and say it publicly, but I think linking GMRS repeaters is stupid and it ties up valuable bandwidth. But I'm not in charge.

What radio does he have?

There isn't one. If you want to chat on a repeater, throw out your call sign and say you're listening or monitoring or ask for a signal report. Asking for a radio check is what you do when you want to buy a radio but you need money from your wife. Maybe someone is there, maybe not. But the age-old saying about GMRS that has been rehashed here many millions of times is that GMRS is a bring-your-own-contacts service. Like your cell phone. Amateur radio is the big one for making random contacts and meeting new people to talk to.

Only if they are held vertically. In any emergency zombie situation, the safest way to hold an HT is horizontally. That way, only other users holding their handhelds horizontally will hear you. It's the polarization equivalent to a CTCSS tone.

It is. But it is not the only way. The solution, if you will, is a toolbag full of useful tools. Each one has uses and limitations. GMRS is limited to UHF, and a few channels. Ham radio, on the other hand, includes a buttload of frequencies on VHF, UHF, HF, and many different modes. Lots of us have both GMRS and amateur radio in our toolbags. The more options you have, the better your chances are of successfully communicating.

You end up with a cacophony of incomprehensible signals. Sometimes the strongest signal will win.

I'm assuming you mean the Nagoya UT-72. Share with us. Are you looking at the UT-72 amateur radio VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) model, or the UT-72G GMRS (462-467 MHz) model? The reason I ask is because you will likely get better performance from the UT-72G GMRS version. Amateur radio antennas and GMRS antennas are generally not interchangeable because they are tuned for different frequencies.

I have the Anysecu WP-9900. I cannot recommend it. Mostly because the transmit audio is very poor. I took the usual step of drilling out the microphone hole and making sure the mic element wasn't blocked. It improved somewhat, but even so it's not that great.

In that case, since it's so clear, why would the FCC say that the paragraph is an attempt to clarify Regulation 95.1749?

Your point?

A couple of weeks ago, I asked the FCC this question via their Help system. "Description: 95.1749 says "Operation of a GMRS station with a telephone connection is prohibited, as in § 95.349. GMRS repeater, base and fixed stations, however, may be connected to the public switched network or other networks for the sole purpose of operation by remote control pursuant to § 95.1745." But there are repeaters that are linked via the internet to increase their range. Under https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs, which does not look like an actual regulation, the wording states "You cannot directly interconnect a GMRS station with the telephone network OR ANY OTHER NETWORK for the purpose of carrying GMRS communications". Is this simply an explanation of 95.1749? Why is it worded differently than 95.1749, and why is there no enforcement of the prohibition of linking GMRS repeaters?" Today, for what it's worth, I got this response. I'll let others pontificate on the meaning, ramifications, innuendos, inferences, confusion, intricacies, complexities, misunderstandings, or misunderestimations of this response, and what it means for the future of linked GMRS repeaters. Good afternoon, The website is an attempt to clarify rules 95.1733(a)(8) and 95.1749. If you are aware of such operations causing interference then you may report the interference to the Enforcement Bureau. FCC Rules and Regulations (Title 47) The FCC rules and regulations are found in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. You can access these rules from the website: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title47/47tab_02.tpl. To obtain information pertaining to rules violations and the fines associated with non-compliance of FCC rules, please review rule sections 1.80 (Forfeiture proceedings) and 1.89 (Notice of violoations). If you have any further questions or need additional information, please submit a help request at https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/available-support-services or call the FCC Licensing Support Center at (877) 480-3201. Sincerely, FCC Licensing Support Center 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST, M - F

He won't because he can't. Although someone did recommend an ID-O-Matic. I don't think that would be very practical on an HT.

I always enjoyed his appearances on Ham Nation. He was (and still is, thanks to video archives and other media) a very important part of amateur radio. Gordon West participates in a weekly net on my repeater. I imagine he'll have something to say.

Really what I asked when I started this thread is if anyone has ever used GMRS or amateur radio in a real emergency.

I actually translated the signal, it's a LifeAlert signal from the Moon.

Grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the debate. It's like that movie my kids like, "The NeverEnding Story".

Last night I checked in to a net transmitting from Santiago Peak in southern California. Net control is in Moreno Valley, 24 miles northeast of the repeater. Whenever net control was transmitting, and only when he was transmitting, an intermittent static crash, about once a second, would show up on his signal, actually disrupting his transmission. Some other folks checking in also had this same noise on their signal, but oddly, not everyone. It was either there or it wasn't. It seems like maybe the source was local to net control and others in his area, but not to people in other areas. The Winsystem, an amateur radio linked system, has a large number of repeaters on VHF/UHF bands, and occasionally has to unlink some of their 440 repeaters because military radar signals get in to the repeaters.

Light beer or regular? There can be a third less watts in light beer.

There is no "granted right to use amplifiers" stated in the rules. Amplifiers appear to only be mentioned (and prohibited) under FCC Part 95 Subpart A under the CBRS section. GMRS is limited to certain power levels, depending on the channels, the most being 50 watts (On channels 15 through 22, and on the repeater channels . So if you are using an amplifier, you would be wise not to use it on channels 1 through 14. But there is no prohibition mentioned. Just don't go over 50 watts where you're allowed by the rules.